Configurable wheel truck for skateboards or roller skates incorporating novel wheel designs

ABSTRACT

A novel skate platform wheel truck and wheel design is disclosed which incorporates five wheels per truck, with a larger center wheel with a convex or flat running surface, and two smaller side wheels with a beveled surface. This configuration permits more fluid and responsive turning of the skateboard.

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.09/148,171 filed Sep. 04, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,382 (which was adivision application of application Ser. No. 08/600,309 filed Feb. 12,1996) entitled CONFIGURABLE WHEEL TRUCK FOR SKATEBOARDS OR ROLLER SKATESINCORPORATING NOVEL WHEEL DESIGNS, which is pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates primarily to skateboards and roller skates andmore particularly, to an improved skate wheel truck and wheelsincorporating novel wheel designs for use therewith.

2. Background Information

Skateboards are well known devices having numerous references in theart. It is also well known that they can be extremely dangerous tosomeone unskilled in their use. Early attempts to alleviate this problemresulted in such solutions are the eight-wheel skateboard having fourwheels per truck as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,557 and animprovement thereto found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,961 wherein an endlessbelt is positioned around paired wheels with each truck having two pair.An alternative, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,379, addressed a similar butslightly different problem for unskilled skaters. When passing overuneven terrain or a curb, having an upward projection which may come incontact with the truck axle housing, causing an abrupt halt to theskateboards forward progress with potential danger to the use. The '379patent utilizes a small roller positioned axially between the wheelpairs and has a radius smaller than the truck wheels so that the rollerwould normally clear objects when a person is skating on a flat, levelterrain, but the roller would engage an upward extending object and rollover rather than impacting upon the object.

However, as a skateboard rider becomes more skilled and begins toattempt acrobatic maneuvers and narrow radium turns as well asincreasing travel speeds, the above-described devices tend to inhibitsuch use by increasing the turning radius when attempting acrobatics andturns and limiting the speed achievable by the rider.

For the more skilled rider, attention has been toward improving thedesign of the wheel, such as that found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,070,065 and4,128,254 which are directed to increasing traction and resistance tosideways slip of the wheel during turn and to reduce loss of speedduring sharp turns due to greatly increased rolling friction as a resultof lip deformation of the wheel.

Thus, there is a need for skateboards having wheel truck configurationsand wheel designs that provide a relatively stable and safe platform forthe beginning use and, at the same time, can be reconfigured as the usergains experience with use of the board in order to perform acrobaticsand turns such as can be found in exhibitions and contests ofskateboarding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a newly designedskateboard truck assembly configurable to incorporate three, four, fiveor more wheels per truck and arranged to provide the stability andcontrol required by the skill of the use. Further, the wheelsincorporate novel designs configurable toward enhancing the stabilityand smoothness of the ride whether in use by a beginner or by an expert.

Additionally, the truck is designed to be compatible with existingboards can be easily retrofit with the novel truck configuration of thepresent invention.

In one configuration, each truck assembly has three wheels placed inaxial alignment. A large wide wheel is mounted in the center of thetruck assembly with two smaller width wheels mounted axially on eitherside of the large center wheel. The center wheel has a small bevel ateach edge and the small side wheels are beveled with the bevel formingthe same angle as the center wheel edge bevels.

In another configuration, the center wheel is narrower than thepreviously described configuration and includes a pair of wheels mountedaxially on either side of the center wheel for a total of five wheelsper truck. The surface along the circumference of the wheel is flat,with the side wheel pairs having beveled surfaces.

It is envisioned the skateboard utilizes two of either of the abovedescribed truck assemblies and during use, while riding in a straightline, the two large center wheels ride flat on the surface. As the ridershifts weight to begin a turn, the two center wheels roll off theircenter surface an onto the beveled edges of the side wheels and, duringthe turn, the harder the rider leans, the sharper the radius of the turnas the side wheels come into play, helping the user's control in keepingthe board from tipping over. Further, the board is more stable at highspeeds as two wheels run truer in form, enabling the user to exercisebetter control of the higher speed.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide theskateboard having a ride with the more natural feeling of skimmingacross the surface of water or snow such as when using an actualsurfboard or snowboard. A further object of the present invention is toprovide a skateboard that is more stable at higher speeds and capable ofgreater range of motion including sharper radius turning than that ofpresent skateboards.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a skateboard orroller skate wheel truck configurable in either of two, three, four,five or more wheels per truck configurations, permitting the board to bereadily adapted to the uses and skills of the rider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, depending claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard incorporating thethree-wheel configuration of the skateboard wheel truck and innovativewheel design of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal wheel truck axisincorporating a three wheel configuration and illustrating oneembodiment of the innovative wheel design of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of FIG. 1showing the mounting configuration of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck in FIG. 1 showing analternate embodiment of the innovative wheel design of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the presentinvention utilizing a single axle, five-wheel configuration andinnovative wheel design;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the presentinvention utilizing a five-axle, five-wheel configuration with the axlesin a staggered configuration;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the presentinvention utilizing four wheels incorporating an innovative wheel designof the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel depicted in FIG. 7 asmodified for use in a two-wheel per truck configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, an improved skateboard incorporating oneembodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated at 10.Skateboard 10 includes a platform 12, a front carriage or wheel truckassembly 14, and a rear carriage or wheel truck assembly 16 inaccordance with the present invention. Truck assemblies 14 and 16 areidentical and are rotated 180° with each other and mounted on a mountingblock 20 adjacent opposing ends of the platform 12. As each carriage orwheel truck assembly 14, 16 is identical, only truck assembly 14 of thevarious embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail.

Wheel truck assembly 14, and referring now to FIG. 2 and 3, comprises amounting block 20 which is affixed to the lower surface 18 of platform12 and a wheel mounting frame 22 including parallel arms or sidewalls 31extending between a flange 34 and a rounded tip 32 and defining arectangular opening 23 therebetween sufficient to receive a main orcenter wheel 24. Frame 22 includes openings 29 formed in the frame 22sidewalls 31 for receiving in a relatively snug fit, wheel axle 28 forsupporting wheels 24, 26 within frame 22 while permitting wheels 24, 26to freely rotate on wheel bearings 30 formed within the wheels 24, 26.

It is to be understood that the wheels 24, 16, utilize wheel bearings 30such as are now known in the art and which are formed in the interior ofthe wheels to rotate around axle 28. However, it is within the scope ofthis invention that as improvements are made in bearings and the like,they may be incorporated in the disclosed invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof. Further, frame 22 is connected, and referringnow to FIG. 3, to mounting block 20 in a traditional manner shown inprior art methods of connecting wheel trucks to skateboards. However, itis within the scope of this invention that the angle, φ, will be varied,depending on the specific frame used for a specific configuration, andwhere the angle φ is defined as 0°≦φ°≦90°.

Wheel 24 has a diameter about its central axis typical of otherskateboard wheels such as is known in the art with the pair of sidewheels 26, having a slightly lesser diameter. The present invention,however, is directed to an innovative design of the wheels 24, 26, andtheir interrelation during operation, as will be discussed hereinafter.

In this embodiment, by way of example and not by way of limitation,wheel 24 has a width on the order of three inches. Wheel 24 includes acentral flat portion 25 formed around the circumference of the wheel 24and has a bevel 27 formed circumferentially on both edges around wheel24. In the shown embodiment, and referring also to FIG. 2A, each bevelis on the order of ¾ inches wide as measured along a tangent axiallyalong the surface 25 wheel 24 and forms and angle θ, on the order of22°, with the aforementioned tangential line.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the abovedimensions and angles are representative of this embodiment only andthat combinations of other dimensions and angles where the surface 25width is ≧½″, and where 2°≦angle θ≦45°, and where the surface 27/27′width is ≧⅛″, without departing from the scope or intent of the presentinvention.

Further, axle 28 extends beyond sidewalls 31 to permit auxiliary orsecondary wheels 26 to be affixed in rotational alignment around axle28. In the depicted embodiment, wheels 26 are narrower than wheel 24 andhave a beveled circumferential surface 27′ with the bevel formed at, andas a continuation of the same angle θ as formed on wheel 24.

In the depicted embodiments, the wheels utilize bearings formed on theinterior thereof, to permit the wheels to rotate around axle 28.Further, frame 22 is connected to mounting block 20 in a manner shown inprior art methods of connecting wheels to platform 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the center wheel 24′is shown to have an elliptical circumferential surface 25′. The outer orside wheels 26′ are identical in construction to wheels 26 shown in FIG.2. The bevel angle θ°, has the same range (2°-45°) as shown for bevel27′ in FIG. 2. Further, the housing 22 of truck 14/16 is identical tothat in FIG. 2, with the main or center wheel 24′ formed by having anelliptical curvature along the circumference thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown to have a modified wheel mounting truck 14′/16′including four parallel arms or sidewalls 66, 68 extending betweenflange 34′ and rounded tip 32′ and defining three openings between therounded tip 32′ and mounting flange 34′ of the housing 14′/16′. Axle 28′extends through openings formed in the sidewalls to secure in position amain wheel 60 mounted on axle 28′ in the center opening defined bysidewalls 66, a pair of first or inner side wheels 62, mounted on axle28′ in the two openings defined by two sidewall pairs, 68, 66 and 66,68, and a pair of second or outer side wheels 64, mounted on axle 28′exterior to housing 14′/16′ and adjacent to sidewalls 68.

The main wheel 60 is flat in its outer diameter circumference withrounded edges. The side wheels 62, have a diameter approximately that ofmain wheel 60 and are beveled at an angle θ. Outer side wheels 64, havea diameter approximately that of the diameter to the bevel diameter ofwheel 62 proximate to wheel 64. The circumference of wheel 64 is alsobeveled at an angle of θ with respect to a horizontal line axiallytangential to the circumference of wheel 64.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the mounting frame 14″/16″ of FIG. 5 has beenmodified to provide offsetting the first and second side wheels 62, 64so that they are in a swept configuration with main wheel 60 proximateto tip 32′ of frame 14″/16″ and side wheels 62 swept back towards flange34′ and side wheels 64 being swept further in the same direction asshown. As a result, multiple short axles are utilized, being depicted inFIG. 6 as axle 70, positioned in sidewalls 66′ and utilized for the mainwheel 60, a pair of axles 72 positioned in both sidewalls 66′, 68′ andutilized for first side wheels 62, and a pair of axles 74, positioned insidewalls 68′ and utilized to position second side wheels 64 externallyto frame 14″/16″. In use, this embodiment permits turns to be made whichhave a very short turning radius.

Referring how to FIG. 7, there is shown still another embodiment 90 ofthe present invention which utilizes the wheel mounting frame of FIG. 5with the axle 28′ extending completely through the truck frame 14′/16′.However, in this embodiment the main wheel 60 shown in FIG. 5 has beenremoved and the inner side wheels 92 have been modified to provide aflat surface 93 on the circumference of wheel 92 starting at the edge ofwheel 92 proximate to side wall 66 and extending axially along thecircumference for a distance of about ¼ the width of wheel 92, but atleast ≧⅛″, at which point the wheel 92 is again beveled an angle of θ°.Referring now to FIG. 8, the wheel similar to that of first outriggerwheel 92 of FIG. 7 but having a greater width and a flat portion 82≧⅕the width of the wheel 84 before beginning a beveled portion at an angleof θ° along the flat portion of wheel 80. These wheels may be utilizedas a retrofit for existing skateboard trucks utilizing two wheels, sothat advantages inherent in the design of the wheels heretoforedescribed may be utilized without purchase of special mounting trucks.

The present invention is directed to a novel skateboard/roller skatewheel design which, in use, provides for a smoother, more natural ridesuch as may be found when riding a snowboard or surfboard, is readilyconfigurable to provide changes in various ride characteristics, such asstability, speed, turning radius, and providing for an even distributionof load on the wheels during turns and to innovative wheel truck frameswhich permit the characteristics inherent in the disclosed wheel designto be fully utilized. By way of example and not by way of limitationwith respect to the configurability of the disclosed invention, anotherembodiment of the present invention, although not shown, envisionsremoving the secondary wheels of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2 and4 to be removed and use would be on the center wheels of the 14/16 wheeltruck.

And, although the innovative wheel truck is designed so as to provide adirect retrofit for existing wheel trucks, it is within the purview ofthe invention that the wheel truck herein described can be modified tofit new designs in skateboard/roller skate wheel truck mounting plates.

Whereas the present invention has been described in relation to thedrawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and furthermodifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be madewithin the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:
 1. A wheel truck and wheel assembly for a skate platform,comprising: a frame having a first and a second mounting means atopposing ends of the frame; the frame further including at least first,second, third, and fourth spaced apart, generally parallel side members,each extending in spaced relation between the first and second mountingmeans and defining a first side rectangular opening, a centerrectangular opening, and a second side rectangular opening respectively,therebetween; a generally straight axle extending across at least one ofsaid openings and between the associated side members thereof; a centerwheel rotatably mounted in and on the axle passing through the centeropening; a first and a second inner side wheel rotatably mounted in andon the axle passing through the left side opening and the right sideopening, respectively; and a first and a second outer side wheelrotatably mounted on the axle extending beyond the outer frame sidemembers defining the left side opening and the right side opening,respectively; wherein the inner and outer side wheels having bevelsformed on the circumference of each, said bevels decreasing in diameteraway from the center wheel.
 2. The inner and outer side wheels of claim1, wherein the bevels form an angle θ° with respect to a line at thecircumference of each said first and second inner and first and secondouter side wheels, the line perpendicular and tangential to thecircumference thereof and where θ° is defined as 2°≦θ°≦45°.
 3. The innerand outer side wheels of claim 2, wherein the bevel width at thecircumference of each said first and second inner and first and secondouter side wheels is ≧⅛″.
 4. The wheel truck and wheel assembly for askate platform of claim 1 in which said center wheel comprises a convexrunning surface.
 5. The wheel truck and wheel assembly for a skateplatform of claim 1 in which said center wheel comprises a flat runningsurface.